302 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



lashes itself into a spray over the cataracts and falls. Here the bird 

 may be seen flying from rock to rock just above the spray of the cur- 

 rent, and alighting upon some little pinacle, expanding its broad black 

 tail as if delighting in its rich and glossy hues. These birds are quite 

 solitary even during the breeding season. I have never seen them 

 show the least fellowship with other birds, or even with those of their 

 own kind. The note of the bird Che-e-e, uttered in a clear whistling 

 tone. Other than this I have never heard a sound from the bird. 



In the accompanying pictures you will see the nest and home of the 

 pair from which I secured a set of eggs. Upon first consideration you 

 may lead to pronounce the bird an Ouzel, but I think there is hardly 

 any resemblence between the two birds. This bird does not, so far as 

 I have been able to detect, ever enter the water except, possibly, to run 

 along on the shoals in search of insects and larva. 



I would be glad to have your ideas upon the subj.ect, and any one 

 addressing me at Foochow, China, will certainly receive an immediate 

 reply to any matters of inquiry. harry r. Caldwell. 



MRS. CHICKADEE'S TRIALS. 



I have devoted much time to the study of birds this spring. A friend 

 has accompanied me and we have enjoyed many delightful walks and 

 seen many interesting sights- One day in the latter part of May, 

 when we were walking along a woodsy road, we noticed the stump of 

 a white birch which was about five feet above the ground and three 

 inches in diameter- In the end was a little excavation which we thought 

 must be a chickadee's nest; but there were no birds to be seen any- 

 where around so we came to the conclusion that it had been abandoned. 

 Several days later, while walking through the same road with a little 

 boy, we called his attention to the cavity (supposing that the birds had 

 left it) and as the little fellow leaned over to look he took hold of the 

 stump which broke off in his hands. The look of astonishment on his 

 face told that he had seen something unexpected. There sat little Mrs. 

 Chickadee who looked at him a moment and then flew out and alighted 

 upon a tree near by. The little nest looked like a bit of felt lining the 

 cavity, and in it were six little eggs. We placed the end of the stump 

 in the soft ground while the dear little bird looked on saying "chick-a- 

 dee-dee, chick-a-dee-dee-" Then we left her and she went back to her 

 eggs. Shortly after this we had a very severe storm. The wind blew 

 a gale, trees lost their branches, many bird nests were blown away, and 

 several baby birds found on the ground. We felt very anxious about 

 Mrs. Chickadee, and as soon as possible went to see how she was 



